Switzerland: Conference Programme Intern

About the IAS:

The International AIDS Society (IAS) leads collective action on every front of the global HIV response through its membership base, scientific authority and convening power. Founded in 1988, the IAS is the world’s largest association of HIV professionals, with members in more than 170 countries. Working with its members, the IAS advocates and drives urgent action to reduce the impact of HIV. The IAS is also the steward of the world’s most prestigious HIV conferences: the International AIDS Conference, the IAS Conference on HIV Science, and the HIV Research for Prevention Conference.

The IAS promotes and invests in HIV advocacy and research on key issue areas through our strategic programmes, initiatives, and campaigns that advocate for urgent action to reduce the global impact of HIV, including increased investment in HIV cure research; optimizing treatment and care for infants, children and adolescents with HIV in resource-limited settings; preventing and treating HIV-related co-infections; and expanding access to prevention, treatment and care for key populations vulnerable to HIV acquisition – such as men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, sex workers and transgender people – including protecting their human rights by combatting punitive laws and discriminatory policies.

More information on IAS can be found at www.iasociety.org.

Details of Internship:

The intern will be based at the IAS Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. He/she will report to the Conference Programme Manager. The internship is full-time from 20 January 2020 to 17 July 2020.

Purpose of the Internship:

The 23rd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020) will be hosted in San Francisco and Oakland, United States, 6-10 July 2020, under the theme of Resilience. More information on IAS can be found at www.aids2020.org.

The Conference Programme Intern will mainly be responsible for assisting the Conference Programme team in the preparation of the AIDS 2020 Conference.

Main Responsibilities:

· Support the conference team in inviting session chairs and speakers for conference sessions (January-July - 20 days): preparing invitations, compiling and tracking replies, inviting back-ups, sending session links and guidelines, answering all general inquiries

· Support the conference team by drafting and prepping relevant communications to committee members and session participants (emails, key documents, etc.)

· Support the fraud hunt process, identifying potentially plagiarized submissions (January - 5 days)

· Support the citation screening process for abstract reviewers (January - 5 days)

· Support the Conference ProgrammeTeam in proofing the content for the launch of the early programme release (January - 3 days)

· Administrative tasks such as updating documents, organizing online archives

· Support preparations of committee meetings: logistics, drafting documents and PowerPoint presentations

· Read and respond to inquiries to the conference inboxes

· Support the conference team in the CME application process (drafting document, support to managing conflict of interests form for session participants, etc.)

· Support the conference team inputting and updating the session planner (session database)

· Assist in the preparation of the Marathon Meeting (prepare documents, folders, abstracts etc.) (February-March - 10 days)

· Support the Conference Project Manager with Prizes and Awards – preparing the reports, inviting the winners etc.

· Provide support and act as point person for the poster exhibition in the build up to the conference and onsite

· Build the roadmaps with the support of the Conference Project Manager

· Setup and write minutes from team meetings.

Perform additional tasks as requested by the Conference Programme Manager.

Academic Qualifications:

· Currently studying or recently graduated in social science, development, international relations or a related field is required. Candidates expressing a keen interest in this area of work will also be considered.

Experience: (previous internships)

· Previous work in organizing conferences and/or events would be an asset

· Experience working in an international context and/or in the field of HIV and AIDS.

Skills/Competencies:

· Attention to detail and excellent organization

· Understanding of project management

· Ability to work independently and take initiative

· Ability to multi-task and handle multiple projects simultaneously

· Ability to cope with stress and meet tight deadlines.

Languages:

· Excellent written and oral English language communication skills. Knowledge of other languages is an asset.

Benefits from this Internship:

The intern can expect to gain skills and experience in the following areas:

· Event and project management

· Programme development

· International relations and communication

· Public health and HIV

Stipend: 2’000.- CHF/month gross (full time).

This internship is ideally suited to a qualified, motivated and eager-to-learn graduate willing to prepare his/her professional life in challenging and dynamic settings, with high international exposure.

Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and a cover letter, in English and by email only, torecruitment@iasociety.orgby Friday, 25 October 2019. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Only candidates from Switzerland, from an EU/EFTA country or candidates already having a valid Swiss working permit to work full-time will be considered.

IAS employees are evidence-based, human rights-focused, inclusive and accountable partners in the HIV response. Candidates should display genuine commitment to IAS values (learn more here).

The IAS is committed to recruiting and sustaining a skilled, effective, diverse and gender-balanced secretariat, and to the greater involvement of people living with HIV (GIPA) in all aspects of its work. People living with HIV are strongly encouraged to apply.